Apparatus and method for fuel control



July 21, 1931. DE FLOREZ 1,815,051

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FUEL CONTROL 'Original File A g- 4. 1922 Patented July 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y LUIS DE FLOREZ, F POMFRET, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY ME SNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

THE TEXAS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FUEL CONTROL Original application filed August 4, 1922, Serial No. 579,603. Divided and this application filed January 25, 1924. Serial No. 688,406.

My invention has to do with the regulation of fuel supply and with particular reference in this instance to oilfuel. This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 579,603 filed August 4, 1922 for method of and apparatus for treatment of hydrocarbons.

My invention also involves the provision of means whereby the regulation of the fuel may be easily, quickly and positively accomplished by means of an apparatus of simple and rugged character, easy to manufacture and repalr, and adaptedto continuous operation with a minimum of likelihood of derangement. I

In the preferred form shown I have chosen to illustrate my apparatus and meth- 0d by its application to the control of fuel to a burner located in a pipe still of usual character for the cracking of hydrocarbons although it is clear that my invention can be applied and used wherever a fuel supply is to be regulated in accordance with the temperature at any selected point either in the furnace or in the medium heated or any other selected place. It is also equally-clear that my invention can be applied where a cooling effect is desired, that is, where it is necessary to maintain a low temperature in a cooling apparatus such as a water coil or the like, although it is not necessarily confined to this illustration.

In the drawings I have shown:

Iii-Fig. l, a diagrammatic illustration of It will be understood that these drawings 40 are purely diagrammatic in character and that I do not intend to confine myself to any of the specific details illustrated or described in the following specification, since, obviously they may be greatly varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I have shown at 1 a pipe still, which may I be of any suitable conventional form, provided with a furnace 2 which is heated by means of a fluid burner, such for instance as.

such \a still and the regulating apparatus oil burner 3, which may also be of any suitable conventional form. While I have selected a pipe still for illustration many other examples would be equally apt such as any heat transfer units or combination of such units where the temperature control of any part of the heating or heated area is important. I have chosen a pipe still in this instance for the reason that it appears in my aforesaid co-pending application and is a convenient exemplification of my apparatus for fuel control. In practice the number and arrangement of the coils 4 may be greatly varied, the arrangement illustr ated-being a purely diagrammatic showing. The coil 4 is supplied with the hydrocarbons to be treated through a header 5 supplied with hydrocarbon from a suitable storage tank6, through a hand or automatic valve 7. Valve 7 may be of the type shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 321,422, adapted to maintain a substantially constant rate of flow of the hydrocarbons to be treated to the coil 4. The coil 4 discharges into a pipe 8, which is connectedto connected to a galvanometer, shown diagrammatically, by the coils 10 and 11, the needle 12 and a standard cell 13, in the manner well known in the art. Pivot-ally mounted within the range of movement of the galvanometer needle 12 are the bell cranks 14 and 15. On the opposite side of the needle 12 is located a chopper 16 actuated by any suitable mechanism, illustrated diagrammatically at 17, to cause the chopper to be brought into contact with the needle, and the, needle in turn with the bell cranks 14 or 15, depending upon the direction in carrying studs 43 and 44 with which the depending arms of the bell cranks 14 and 15 are adapted to cooperate to cause deflection of the bar 19 from its normal position, in which it is illustrated, by rotation about the pivot 18. It will be evident that the extent of the deflection of bar 19 from its normal position would be dependent upon the extent of movement of the bell cranks 14 and 15 which in turn depend upon the extent of deflection of the needle 12 of the galvanometer.

. ing mechanism whichcomprises a constantly rotating shaft 20, upon which are mounted cams 21 and 22, which may have the general form shown in Fig. 2. Said cams are adapted in their rotation to strike the elevated ends of bar 19 and restore the bar to the position illustrated in Fig. 1. Cams 21 and 22 are insulated from shaft and the portions of the bar 19 with which they contact comprise insulated contact pieces 23 and 24. Contact pieces 23 and 24 and cams 21 and 22, by means of brushes 25 and 26, are connected to solenoids 27 and 28- and to batteries, or other suitable source of current, 29 and 30.

Fuel is supplied to the burners 3 by means of fuel supply pipe 31 from a suitable source of fuel supply (not shown). It will be understood that my device is applicable to various kinds of fuel, but that I have shown it in connection with a fluid fuel, such as oil or gas. Fuel supply pipe 31 is connected to supply line 32, which, by means of valve 33, is given a fixed predetermined opening somewhat less than the normal requirements of the burner. In addition to the line 32 there are two auxiliary lines 34 and 35 which are respectively controlled by valves 36 and 37. These valves may be of any suitable form, such as the poppet valves illustrated, and are operated by means of the solenoids 27 and 28 respectively. It is important to note that I provide valves which have a constant opening. That is, when these valves are open it is always to their full extent so that the fuel passes through them at a constant rate and the amount of fuel so passed is a function of time and not of the extent of opening. In the normal position of the apparatus as illustrated, valve 36 is open, thus allowing the fuel to pass through the auxiliary line 34 and the valve 37 is closed shutting off the auxiliary line 35. While I show in the preferred form of my inventionthe auxiliary lines 34 and 35, it will be understood that such auxiliary lines are not essential and that suitable valves could be placed in a single fuel line to accomplish results identical with those hereinafter described.

If desired, means may be provided for regulating the draft of the furnace in response to temperature variations affecting the pyrometric thermo-couple, and means for obtaining such regulation is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, in which 38 may be taken to be the stack of the furnace, 39 a damper pivotally mounted at 40, which damper is moved by means of the solenoids 41 and 42. Solenoids 41 and 42 are connected either in series or in parallel (the parallel arrangement being illustrated) with solenoids 27 and 28, and thus operate simultaneously therewith. A normal opening corresponding to the normal fuel flow is given the damper. It will be noted that when solenoid 41 is energized the damper is closed, and when solenoid 42 is energized the damper is opened.

The operation of my improved apparatus is briefly as follows:

The rate of flow of hydrocarbon to the furnace having been adjusted by means of the valve 7 and being maintained substantially constant, and the temperature of the furnace being regulated by means of valve 100 33 to produce a suitable temperature of the hydrocarbons or their vapors at the outlet, as evidenced by the thermo-couple 9, any variation in the temperature at the outlet of the still will cause a deflection of the gal- 105.

vanometer needle 12; thus for instance, an increase in the temperature will cause a deflection such as that illustrated in the drawings, and movement of the chopper 16 will cause bell crank 15 to raise bar 19 at its left hand end. The cam 21 will thus in its rotation be brought into contact with contact 23, owing to the shape of the cam. The chopper 16 in its upper position, the deflected galvanometer needle 12, the result ing position of the bell crank 15 and the subsequent position of the bar 19 are all shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. A deflection of the needle 12'to the opposite side would similarly move bell crank 14 to raise the bar 19 in the opposite direction to the dotted position shown. Since the deflection of the bar 19 is a function of the deflection of the needle 12, it is evident that the duration of the regulation due to the contact of cam 21 and contact 23 will be a function of the deflection of the needle 12, that is to say, of the extent of the departure of the temperature at the outlet of the still from normal. Cam 21 and contact 23 close the 0 circuit through solenoid 27, energizing same and causing valve 36 to close, thereby decreasing the amount of fuel supplied to the burner. The regulation is therefore accomplished by a series of puffs of decreasing duration as the temperature approaches normal. Fllltl'16111'1016, the valves 36 and 37 are arranged for complete opening or shutting; that is, each of the solenoids 27 and 28, when energized, operate to their full stroke. Consequently, as this regulation may frequently take place either by the closing and opening of valve 36, or by the opening and closing of valve 37, each to its full extent, the fuel passing to the burner 3 enters the pipe 31 in a series of puffs resulting from the valve action just mentioned. These puffs, however, are smoothed out in their travel through pipe 31 so'that by the time they reach the burner the flow of fuel is practically even. Similarly a decrease in still temperature below normal will cause a deflection of the galvanometer needle 12 to the right causing a raising of the right hand end of the bar 19 and the energization of solenoid 28 and a consequent opening of the valve 37 to supply more fuel to the burners.

If the damper regulation illustrated is used, the energizing of the circuit through solenoid 27 will also energize solenoid 41 .thus shutting the damper and the energizing of the circuit through solenoid 28 will energize solenoid 42 opening the damper.

It will be evident that when the deflection is to the left as illustrated only the solenoids 41 and 27 are energized, and that no effect is produced upon the solenoids 28 and 42, and that vice-versa, if the temperature is too low, and the deflection of the needle is therefore to the right, solenoids 28 and -12 alone will be energized.

It is evident from the foregoing description and from the drawings of my invention that it is susceptible of application to a Wide range of uses wherever it is important to regulate a fuel supply or a cooling medium.

in relation to the temperature at a given place, either near or segregated from the area of combustion or the area of cooling, and I desire it understood that I include in my claims all such changes without departing from the spirit of my invention.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a device of the kind described means for controlling a fluid fuel supply comprising a supply line having a fixed opening, a normally open auxiliary line and a normally closed auxiliary line and means to close and open-the auxiliary lines in response to temperature changes.

2. In a device of the kind described a furnace and means for controlling the fuel supply thereto comprising a fuel supply line having a normally fixed opening, a normally open auxiliary line, a normally closed auxiliary line and means responsive to temperature variations of the medium heated by the furnace for opening and closing the auxiliary lines.

3. In a device of the kind described, a

furnace having a fluid burner adapted to heat the same and means for controlling the fluid supply to the burner comprising a fluid supply line having a fixed opening, a normally open auxiliary line and a normally closed auxiliary line, a pyrometric means res onsive to temperature variations at a pre etermined point in the furnace and electrical means responsive to the operation of the pyrometric means for opening and closing the auxiliary lines.

4. In a device of the kind described a furnace, means for controlling the fuel supply thereto comprising a fuel line having a fixed opening, a normally open auxiliary line, a normally closed auxiliary line and means for opening and closing said auxiliary lines, and a damper and regulating mechanism therefor comprising means responsive to temperature variations adapted to close the damper upon closure of the normally open auxiliary line and to open the damper upon opening of the normally closed auxiliary line.

5. In a device of the kind described, a furnace having a fluid bu rner adapted to heat the same, a fluid supply line having a fixed opening adapted to supply fuel to the burner, a normally open auxiliary line, a normally closed auxiliary line, solenoids adapted to be energized in response to tem perature variations of a predetermined point in the furnace to open and close the auxiliary lines, a damper, and solenoids,

adapted to be energized simultaneously with the auxiliary line controlling solenoids to open and close the damper in response to temperature variations of said predetermined point of the furnace.

6. In a device of the kind describeda furnace and means for controlling the fuel supply thereto comprising a fuel supply line having a fixed normal opening, a normally closed auxiliary line, a normally perature variations of the medium heated by the furnace to maintain the normally open auxiliary line unchanged and to open the normally closed line when the temperature of the medium falls below a predetermined temperature and to maintain the normally closed auxiliary line unchanged and to close the normally open auxiliary line when the temperature of the medium exceeds the predetermined temperature.

8. In an apparatus for fuel control, meansto determine temperature at a given point, means to supply fuel to maintain a heat level at that point at a desired temperature, a normally closed valve for affecting the supply of fuel, regulating means responsive to the temperature changes to actuate said valve to full opening for corrections below the desired heat level and a normally open valve for reversely affecting the supply of fuel and adapted to be actuated by said regulating means to a closed position to effect corrections above the desired heat level.

9. In a device of the kind described, a still adapted for the heating of hydrocarbon oils, a burner adapted to heat the still, means for supplying fuel to said burner and means for regulating and applying variable corrections at predetermined recurrent intervals to the fuel supply to maintain the desired temperature at a selected point in the still, said regulating means being adapted to regulate the duration of the application of each correction in ac cordance with the extent to which the temperature at the selected point has departed from the desired temperature at the time of making that correction.

10. A system for the regulation of temperature comprising means to reflect changes from a predetermined value in the temperature, means responsive to the movements of said first means to close an electrical circuit andafter each such actuation to open said circuit, means adapted to effect the actuation of said second means at predetermined recurrent intervals, and means energized upon the closing of the circuit for applying corrections to the value of the temperature only during such time as the circuit remains closed, whereby the temperature tends to be maintained substantially at the predetermined value.

11. The method of temperature control of a furnace or the like, which comprises supplying fuel thereto in an amount sufiicient under normal operating conditions to maintain the temperature at i a selected point therein at a predetermined level, and when the conditions so depart from normal as to effect a change in the level, applying discontinuous corrections, at predetermined recurrent intervals, in amounts decreasing toward zero with the approach to thedesired temperature.

12. The method of temperature control of a furnace or the like, which comprises supplying thereto a predetermined quantity of fuel which is designed to maintain the desired temperature at a selected point therein, automatically correcting this quantity of fuel at predetermined recurrent intervals in response to changes from the desired temperature, and effecting a return to the predetermined quantity of fuel after the application of each correction.

13. In a device of the kind described, a still adapted for the heating of hydrocarbon oils, a burner adapted to heatLthestilI, a fuel supply line to said burner haying a normally fixed opening, two auxiliarytsupply lines, one provided with a normally open valve and the other provided with a normally closed valve, and means responsive to changes in the temperature at a selected point in the still for opening the normally closed valve or for closing the normally open valve, whereby a substantially constant normal temperature may be maintained.

14:. In an apparatus for control of a temperature modifying medium, a supply line having a normally fixed opening, two auxiliary supply lines, one provided with a normally open valve and the other provided with a normally closed valve, both said valves being adapted to return to such normal positions after each actuation, and actuating means responsive to variations in the temperature from normal, for closing the normally open valve or for opening the normally closed valve.

15. Inan apparatus for the control of a temperature modifying medium, means for supplying a predetermined normal quantity of the medium, means to reflect changes in temperature, and automatic means for predetermining positive and negative corrective quantities of the medium in response to the departure of the temperature from normal, as reflected by said first means, and for thereafter respectively adding to and subtracting from the normal quantity of the medium such corrective quantities, and for effecting a return to the normal quantity after the application of each correction.

16. The method of temperature control of a furnace or the like which comprises supplying fuel to heat the same at a predetermined rate, automatically effecting a change, at predetermined recurrent intervals, in the rate of fuel supply previously established to maintain a predetermined temperature at a selected point therein, and regulating the duration of time over which such changed rate is permitted to continue in proportion to the extent to which the temperature at the selected point has departed from the 1 predetermined tem erature at the time the change is institute e 17. The method of temperature control of a furnace or the like, which comprises supplying a normal quantity of fuel to heat the same, automatically applying, at predetermined recurrent intervals, corrections to the quan ity of fuel supplied thereto to maintain a predetermined temperature at a selected point therein, each of which corrections, as expressed in terms of quantity of fuel, is pro ortionate to the extent of the departure of 518 temperature at the selected point from the predetermined temperature at the time of making that correctlon, and effecting a return to the normal quantity of fuel. after the application of each correction.

18. In the method of temperature control of a furnace or the like, comprising supplying a normal quantity of fuel to heat the same, applying, at predetermined recurrent intervals, corrections to the quantity of fuel supplied thereto to maintain a predetermined temperature at a selected point therein, the steps which consist in automatically predetermining the amount of each fuel correction, as expressed in terms of quantity of fuel, from the condition of the temperature with respect to the desired temperature at the time the correction is instituted, and effecting a return to the normal quantity of fuel after the application of each correction. n

In testimonywl'iereof, I have si ed my name to this specification this 22n day of January, 1924. LUIS 1m FLOREZ. 

